NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Paul Mara's game-winning goal came just in time for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Mara scored with 33.6 seconds left to give the Lightning a 3-2 victory Saturday night over the Nashville Predators, Tampa Bay's season-high third straight win.

Mara ripped a slap shot from the top of the left circle through the legs of Tomas Vokoun.

"Bruce Gardiner got me the puck going wide," Mara said "I was just looking to get a shot, and I hit it as hard as I could. Fortunately for our team it went in."

Zac Bierk stopped all 14 third-period shots to improve to 3-0.

"Zac stood on his head in the third," Lightning forward Gordie Dwyer said. "He was great."

The Predators outshot the Lightning 14-5 in the final period and 30-17 overall.

"I had quite a bit of work there in the third, and it was great for the guys to come down and score," Bierk said. "When Paul scored, I just felt a sense of relief. The way the game had gone, we'd given up goals late in the first two periods."

The loss was a tough one for the Predators, who had won two straight.

"That's going to happen," Predators forward Rob Valicevic said. "It is very disappointing, but we just have to regroup."

Right wing Mike Johnson, obtained in a trade with Toronto Feb. 9, had his second straight two-goal game for Tampa Bay. His second goal came on the power play, as he shoveled the rebound of Vincent Lecavalier's shot over Vokoun in the second.

Predators defenseman Karlis Skrastins tied it 2-2 on a power-play blast from the left point later in the period.

Johnson gave the Lightning a 1-0 lead at 15:04 of the first on a one-timer in the slot, set up by a perfect feed from behind the net by Lecavalier.

Nashville defenseman Drake Berehowsky tied it 1-1 at 19:00, crashing in from the right circle and putting Sebastien Bordeleau's feed between Bierk's legs.

Bierk was one of seven rookies among the 20 players Tampa Bay had in uniform. Chris Gratton was out with a bruised foot, missing just the sixth game due to injury in his seven-year career.

"We're going to give Bierk an opportunity," Lightning coach Steve Ludzik said. "So far he's made the most of his chance."